Is Safari on Ios 6 Caching $.Ajax Results?

Is Safari on iOS 6 caching $.ajax results?

As a tech professional working with JavaScript, you may have encountered the issue of Safari on iOS 6 caching $.ajax results. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to retrieve the latest data from the server but Safari keeps serving you cached results. In this blog post, we will explore the problem and provide multiple solutions to overcome this caching issue.

The Problem

Safari on iOS 6 has a default behavior of caching GET requests made using $.ajax. This means that if you make the same request multiple times, Safari will serve the cached response instead of making a fresh request to the server. This behavior can cause problems when you’re expecting to receive the latest data from the server.

Solution 1: Disable Caching

The simplest solution to overcome this caching issue is to disable caching for the $.ajax requests. You can achieve this by adding the cache: false option to your $.ajax call. Here’s an example:

$.ajax({
  url: "your-api-endpoint",
  method: "GET",
  cache: false,
  success: function(response) {
    // Handle the response
  },
  error: function(xhr, status, error) {
    // Handle the error
  }
});

By setting cache: false, Safari will always make a fresh request to the server, ensuring that you receive the latest data.

Solution 2: Add a Random Query Parameter

Another approach to bypass Safari’s caching is to add a random query parameter to your $.ajax requests. By appending a unique value to the URL, Safari will treat each request as a new one and won’t serve cached results. Here’s an example:

$.ajax({
  url: "your-api-endpoint?_=" + Date.now(),
  method: "GET",
  success: function(response) {
    // Handle the response
  },
  error: function(xhr, status, error) {
    // Handle the error
  }
});

In this example, we’re appending the current timestamp as a query parameter. Since the timestamp will always be unique, Safari will make a fresh request to the server every time.

Solution 3: Set Response Headers

If you have control over the server-side, you can also set the appropriate response headers to prevent caching. By setting the Cache-Control and Expires headers, you can instruct Safari not to cache the $.ajax responses. Here’s an example in PHP:

header("Cache-Control: no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate");
header("Expires: Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT");

By setting the Cache-Control header to no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate and the Expires header to a past date, Safari will always make a fresh request to the server.

Conclusion

Safari on iOS 6 caching $.ajax results can be a frustrating issue, but fortunately, there are multiple solutions available. By disabling caching, adding a random query parameter, or setting the appropriate response headers, you can ensure that Safari always retrieves the latest data from the server. Choose the solution that best fits your requirements and start enjoying fresh data in your applications!

Is Safari on Ios 6 Caching $.Ajax Results?